An irrigation alignment apparatus is described that couples a main section assembly to an extension section assembly. In an implementation, the irrigation alignment apparatus includes a ball connector configured to couple to the main section assembly and a socket for receiving the ball connector, which is configured to at least partially pivot about the ball connector. The socket is coupled to the extension section assembly. The irrigation alignment apparatus also includes a socket pulley coupled to the socket about a centroid of the ball connector and is configured to at least partially pivot the socket about the ball connector. The socket pulley is configured to connect to a linking member that is coupled to a camshaft via a camshaft pulley. The camshaft is configured to indicate a positional alignment of the extension section assembly.
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1. An irrigation system comprising:
a main section assembly including a first conduit configured to carry liquid;
an extension section assembly including a second conduit configured to carry liquid; and
an irrigation alignment apparatus configured to couple the main section assembly to the extension section assembly, the irrigation alignment apparatus comprising:
a ball connector coupled to the main section assembly;
a socket for receiving the ball connector and coupled to the extension section assembly, the socket configured to at least partially pivot about the ball connector;
a socket pulley coupled to the socket about a centroid of the ball connector, the socket pulley configured to at least partially pivot the socket about the ball connector; and
a camshaft pulley coupled to the main section assembly, the camshaft pulley coupled to the socket pulley via a linking member, wherein the camshaft pulley is coupled to a camshaft, the camshaft in communication with a plurality of switches for controlling at least one of the main section assembly or the extension section assembly, the camshaft configured to indicate a positional alignment of the extension section assembly.
8. An irrigation system comprising:
a main section assembly including a first conduit supported upon a plurality of first tower structures, the first conduit configured to carry liquid;
an extension section assembly including a second conduit supported upon a plurality of second tower structures, the second conduit configured to carry liquid; and
an irrigation alignment apparatus configured to couple the main section assembly to the extension section assembly, the irrigation alignment apparatus comprising:
a ball connector coupled to the main section assembly;
a socket for receiving the ball connector and coupled to the extension section assembly, the socket configured to at least partially pivot about the ball connector;
a socket pulley coupled to the socket about a centroid of the ball connector, the socket pulley configured to at least partially pivot the socket about the ball connector; and
a camshaft pulley coupled to the main section assembly, the camshaft pulley coupled to the socket pulley via a linking member,
wherein the camshaft pulley is coupled to a camshaft, the camshaft in communication with a plurality of switches for controlling at least one of the main section assembly or the extension section assembly, the camshaft configured to indicate a positional alignment of the extension section assembly.
15. An irrigation system comprising:
a center pivot structure;
a main section assembly coupled to the center pivot structure, the main section assembly configured to at least partially traverse about the center pivot structure, the main irrigation section including a first conduit supported upon a plurality of first tower structures, the first conduit configured to carry liquid;
an extension section assembly including a second conduit supported upon a plurality of second tower structures, the second conduit configured to carry liquid;
a third conduit configured to couple the first conduit to the second conduit, the third conduit vertically aligned over the first conduit; and
an irrigation alignment apparatus configured to couple the main section assembly to the extension section assembly, the irrigation alignment apparatus comprising:
a ball connector configured to couple to the main section assembly;
a socket for receiving the ball connector and coupled to the extension section assembly, the socket configured to at least partially pivot about the ball connector;
a socket pulley coupled to the socket about a centroid of the ball connector, the socket pulley configured to at least partially pivot the socket about the ball connector; and
a camshaft pulley coupled to the main section assembly, the camshaft pulley coupled to the socket pulley via a linking member,
wherein the camshaft pulley is coupled to a camshaft, the camshaft in communication with a plurality of switches for controlling at least one of the main section assembly or the extension irrigation section assembly, the camshaft configured to indicate a positional alignment of the extension section assembly.
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The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/466,547, entitled ANGULAR ALIGNMENT CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AN ARTICULATING CENTER PIVOT IRRIGATION SYSTEM, filed on Mar. 23, 2011. U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/466,547 is herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.
Modern day agriculture has become increasingly efficient in the past century and this trend must continue in order to produce a sufficient food supply for the ever increasing world population. A notable advancement in agricultural production was the introduction of mechanized irrigation systems such as center pivot and linear move irrigators. These irrigation systems make it possible to irrigate entire fields thereby reducing a crop yield's vulnerability to extreme weather conditions. In more arid environments, mechanized irrigation systems are used to provide the amount of water and/or applicants to increase the available farmable acreage for an increased variety of crops and provide a profitable crop yield for that farmable acreage. In temperate environments, mechanized irrigation systems can be used to provide water to fields during extended periods without rain.
An irrigation alignment apparatus is described that couples a main section assembly to an extension section assembly. The irrigation alignment apparatus is configured to allow the extension section assembly to pivot about the main section assembly to irrigate areas otherwise unavailable due to obstructions. In an implementation, the irrigation alignment apparatus includes a ball connector configured to couple to the main section assembly and a socket for receiving the ball connector, which is configured to at least partially pivot about the ball connector. The socket is configured to couple to the extension section assembly. The irrigation alignment apparatus also includes a socket pulley coupled to the socket about a centroid of the ball connector and is configured to at least partially pivot the socket about the ball connector. The socket pulley is configured to connect to a linking member that is coupled to a camshaft. The camshaft is configured to indicate a positional alignment of the extension section assembly.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. The use of the same reference numbers in different instances in the description and the figures may indicate similar or identical items.
Cultivation areas, such as fields, may include one or more obstructions that restrict the movement of irrigation systems. For example, the cultivation areas may include a building, natural obstruction, or the like, which may prevent an irrigation section of the irrigation system from irrigating specified areas near the obstructed areas.
Accordingly, an irrigation system that includes an irrigation alignment apparatus is described. For example, the irrigation system may be a center pivot irrigation system having a main section assembly and an extension section assembly. The irrigation alignment apparatus is configured to allow the extension section assembly to pivot about the main section assembly to irrigate areas otherwise unavailable due to obstructions. In an implementation, the irrigation alignment apparatus includes a ball connector configured to couple to the main section assembly and a socket for receiving the ball connector, which is configured to at least partially pivot about the ball connector. The socket is configured to couple to the extension section assembly. The irrigation alignment apparatus also includes a socket pulley coupled to the socket about a centroid of the ball connector and is configured to at least partially pivot the socket about the ball connector. The socket pulley is configured to connect to a linking member that is coupled to a camshaft via a camshaft pulley. The camshaft may be in communication with a plurality of switches for controlling (e.g., selectively powering) at least one of the main section assembly or the extension section assembly (e.g., selectively powering the drive units of the respective section assembly). The camshaft is also configured to indicate a positional alignment of the extension section assembly. In an implementation, the linking member may be a flexible cogged belt, or a chain.
Example Implementations
The main section assembly 104 includes a number of interconnected spans 108, 110 supported by a tower structure 112 and an end tower structure 114. The extension section assembly 106 also includes a number of interconnected spans 116, 118 supported by a tower structure 120 and an end tower structure 122. It is understood that the main section assembly 104 and the extension section assembly 106 may include any number of spans and tower structures.
Each tower structure 112, 114, 120, 122 includes wheels 124, 126 to assist in traversing (e.g., pivoting) the articulating irrigation system 100 about a specified area (see field 300 shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In an implementation, apparatus 200 may also include a roller mount assembly 218 configured to pivot about a connector conduit 220 (e.g., a female swivel assembly). The connector conduit 220 includes a first conduit portion 222 coupled to a second conduit portion 224. The roller mount assembly 218 includes an angle 226 and a removable roller mount 228. The angle 226 includes an upper surface 230 that one or more rollers 232 extend through (e.g., extending through the upper surface 230) and a brace 233. As shown in
The apparatus 200 further includes a camshaft pulley 236 that is coupled to the socket pulley 210 via a linking member, such as a belt 238. In an implementation, the belt 238 may be a flexible cogged belt, or the like. For example, the cogged belt may be a neoprene rubber belt. In yet another implementation, the linking member may be a chain. The camshaft pulley 236 has a diameter at least substantially equal to the diameter of the socket pulley 210 in one or more implementations. As shown in
The camshaft 248 may have multiple orientations (e.g., cam orientations) indicating (e.g., corresponding) the positional alignment of the extension section assembly 106. For example, the camshaft 248 has a first orientation corresponding to the extension section assembly 106 having an at least substantially horizontal alignment (e.g., non-bend mode) with the main section assembly 104 (the extension section assembly 106 is at least substantially aligned along a horizontal axis defined by the main section assembly 104). In another example, the camshaft 248 has another orientation (e.g., a second orientation, a third orientation, a fourth orientation, etc.) corresponding to the extension section assembly 106 having non-horizontal alignment (e.g., bend mode) with the main section assembly 104. In this example, the orientation of the camshaft 248 corresponds to the angular alignment of the extension section assembly 106 with respect to the main section assembly 104. The camshaft 248 (the cams 250) may be pre-set before use of the system 100 (e.g., an operator/technician sets the cams 250A through 250E according to the requirements of the field 300). The various orientations of the camshaft 248 may be defined (positions of the cams 250 may be set) according to the characteristics of the field 300 (e.g., the dimensions of the field, obstructed/unobstructed areas of the field 300, and so forth). As a result, the orientation of the camshaft 248 indicates the relative position of the extension section assembly 106 with respect to the main section assembly 104. Thus, as the extension section assembly 106 pivots about the ball connector 202 (axis A-A), the cams 250 may selectively actuate the corresponding switches 252. For example, the belt 238 is configured to orient the camshaft 248 to a first orientation that causes a first cam 250A to selectively actuate a first switch 252A that selectively powers the drive unit 127. In another example, the belt 238 is configured to orient the camshaft 248 to a second orientation that causes a second cam 250B to selectively actuate a second switch 252B to prevent the extension section assembly 106 from impinging an undesirable location (e.g., power down the system 100 (e.g., drive units of the main section assembly 104 and the extension section assembly 106) before the extension section assembly 106 hits an obstruction). In this example, as shown in
As shown in
It is contemplated that maintaining the connector conduit 220 over the conduit 130 allows the extension section assembly 106 to pivot about the axis A-A without interference from the connector conduit 220. Moreover, by centering the socket 209 and the pulley 210 about the centroid 212 of the ball connector 202, the effects of an adverse terrain are minimized to the belt 238, which assists in ensuring accuracy of the system 100.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or process operations, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
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